Designation: C 875 – 98 (Reapproved 2003)

Standard Specification for

Asbestos-Cement Conduit1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 875; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope National Motor Freight Classification Rules7

1.1 This specification covers asbestos-cement conduit for
use in electric-power systems and communication systems.
The service is for both underground and exposed conditions.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values stated in parentheses are provided for
information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. See 10.2.1 for a
specific hazard warning.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 150 Specification for Portland Cement2
C 458 Test Method for Organic Fiber Content of Asbestos-
Cement Products3
C 500 Test Methods for Asbestos-Cement Pipe3
C 595 Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements2
C 618 Specification for Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined
Natural Pozzolan for Use as a Mineral Admixture in
Portland Cement Concrete4
D 2946 Terminology Relating to Asbestos and Asbestos-
Cement Products3
2.2 Military Standard:
MIL-STD-129 Marking for Shipment and Storage5
2.3 Federal Standard:
Fed. Std. No. 123 Marking for Shipment (Civil Agencies)5
2.4 Other Standards:
Uniform Freight Classification Rules6
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C-17 on
Fiber-Cement Products and is the direct responsibility of C17.03 on Asbestos-
Cement Products.
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 1998. Published March 1999. Originally
published as C 875 – 77. Last previous edition C 875 – 92(1997).
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.05.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
5 7
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4, Section D,
700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
6 8
Available from the Uniform Classification Commission, Room 1106, 222 S.
Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606.
AIA, RCP2, Asbestos-Cement Products8
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 conduit, n—asbestos-cement pipe used to protect
wires for electric-power or communication systems, for both
underground and exposed situations.
3.1.2 coupling—component made from a larger diameter
pipe of the same type or Type II and of the same class or a
higher class, or produced otherwise to yield at least equal
performance, for joining asbestos-cement pipe that when
properly installed, forms a silt-tight joint, allows alignment
corrections and slight changes in direction, and provides an
assembled joint equivalent in serviceability and strength to the
pipe sections.
3.1.3 fittings—fittings such as adapters, reducers, increasers,
bends, and bell ends, for use in laying asbestos-cement conduit
as described in Section 5 and made to such dimensions as will
provide equivalent strength and silt-tight joints when as-
sembled with the conduit.
3.1.4 lot—a lot as used herein is defined as each 1000
lengths of conduit or less, of a given class, type, and size
manufactured on one machine during a 24-h period.
3.2 Additional terminology is given in Terminology
D 2946.
4. Classification
4.1 The classes of conduit shall be as follows:
Class B—Intended for use encased in concrete after instal-
lation.
Class C—Intended for use without concrete encasement, or
for exposed services.
4.2 The types of conduit shall be known as Type I and Type
II corresponding to the chemical requirements given in Section
6 of this specification. For a more thorough understanding and
as a guide to the chemical resistance of asbestos-cement
conduit, reference is made to Test Methods C 500.
Available from National Motor Freight Inc., 1616 “P’’ St. NW, Washington,
DC 20036.
Available from Asbestos Information Assoc., 1745 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Crystal Square 4, Suite 509, Arlington, VA 22202.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 C 875 – 98 (2003)
NOTE 1—To assist the purchaser in choosing the type of conduit most
suitable for his use, the following descriptions of usage may be consid-
ered:
Type I—For use where nonaggressive water and soil of moderate
sulphate content are expected to come in contact with the conduit.
Type II—For use where moderately aggressive water or water and soil
of high sulphate content, or both, are expected to come in contact with the
conduit.
4.3 The conduit shall be furnished in 40, 50, 75, 100, and
150 mm (1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6-in.) nominal sizes and shall have
a circular cross section.
5. Materials and Manufacture
5.1 Asbestos-cement conduit shall be composed of an inti-
mate mixture of portland cement conforming to Specification
C 150, or portland slag or pozzolan cements conforming to
Specification C 595, and asbestos fiber with or without finely
divided silica or silica-containing mineral additives conform-
ing to Specification C 618 that can react to form calcium
silicate reaction products; and asbestos fiber. The mixture shall
not contain more than 0.2 % of non-deleterious organic com-
ponents as determined by Test Method C 458. The material
shall be of laminar construction formed under pressure to a
homogeneous structure and cured to meet the physical and
chemical requirements of this specification.
6. Chemical Composition
6.1 When tested in accordance with Test Methods C 500,
the amount of uncombined calcium hydroxide shall not exceed
1.0 % for Type II conduit 2—There are no chemical require-
ments for Type I conduit.
7. Mechanical Properties
7.1 Flexural Strength:
7.1.1 Each 3 or 4-m (10 or 13-ft) standard length and each
2.9 m (9.5 ft) or longer random length conduit shall have
sufficient flexural strength to withstand, without failure, the
total load prescribed in Table 1, when tested in accordance with
7.1.1.1.
7.1.1.1 The specimen shall be mounted longitudinally on
“V” blocks, preferably of hard wood or of steel, 5 cm (2 in.)
long, 2 rad (120°) angle of “V,” faces 13 3 5 cm (5 3 2 in.),
and the load applied through a rectangular block, 5 cm (2 in.)
in width, at the center of the span. The spans between the faces
of supporting blocks shall be as given in Table 1 for the
particular class of conduit. The breaking loads, the average of
at least two specimens from each length, shall not be less than
those given in Table 1 for the particular class of conduit.
7.2 Crushing Strength—Crushing tests shall be conducted
before shipment. Thirty-centimetre (1-ft) lengths of conduit cut
from the unmachined portion of the conduit shall have the
minimum crushing strength prescribed in Table 2, when tested
in accordance with Test Methods C 500.
8. Dimensions, Mass, and Permissible Variations
8.1 The average inside diameter measured at the end of the
conduit shall be 63 mm (60.1 in.) of the nominal inside
diameter.
8.2 The bore of the conduit shall pass freely through a
mandrel 1 m (3 ft) long and 6 mm (0.25 in.) less in diameter
than the nominal inside diameter of the conduit.
8.3 The inner dimensions of the bends shall be such that a
ball 1 cm (0.4 in.) less in diameter than the nominal inside
diameter of the conduit, shall pass freely through them.
8.4 Couplings and coupling areas of the conduit shall be
machined or otherwise finished to such dimensions as will
provide silt-tight joints when assembled with proper accesso-
ries and put into the service for which the conduit is intended.
8.5 The standard lengths of conduit shall be 1.5, 2, 3, or 4 m
6 2.5 cm (5, 6.5, 10, or 13 ft 6 1 in.). At least 85 % of the total
length of any one class, type, and size shall be furnished in
standard lengths. The remaining 15 % may be in random
lengths if not less than 1.5 m (5 ft) for standard 3 and 4-m (10
and 13-ft) lengths, or less than 1 m (3 ft) for standard 2 and
1.5-m (6.5 and 5 ft) lengths.
9. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
9.1 Machined ends of the conduit that receive the coupling
shall be free of dents and gouges that will affect the silt-
tightness of the joint.
9.2 Each conduit shall be free of bulges, dents, and tears on
the inside surface that result in a variation of more than 5 mm
(0.2 in.) from the adjacent unaffected portions of the surface.
9.3 All inside edges of the conduit shall be rounded and
smooth. The ends of each length of conduit shall be at right
angles to the axis of the conduit.
10. Sampling
10.1 Test all material under this specification in a normal
air-dried condition in equilibrium with atmospheric humidity.
10.2 For the flexural test, two specimens shall be cut from
one full length of conduit from each lot.
10.2.1 Caution: When cutting asbestos-cement products
minimize the dust that results. Prolonged or frequent breathing
of significant airborne concentrations of cement, crystalline
silica or asbestos dust is hazardous. When such dusts are

TABLE 1 Flexural Strength Requirements

Nominal Inner Diameter Test Span (Free Span) Class B Applied Test Load Class C Applied Test Load
mm (in.) mm (in.) kN (lbf) kN (lbf)
40 (1.5) 760 (30) 2.7 (600) 3.8 (850)
50 (2) 760 (30) 2.7 (600) 3.8 (850)
75 (3) 762 (30) 2.7 (600) 3.8 (850)
100 (4) 762 (30) 4.4 (980) 5.6 (1260)
130 (5) 1219 (48) 4.9 (1100) 6.7 (1500)
150 (6) 1372 (54) 5.8 (1300) 8.9 (2000)

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 C 875 – 98 (2003)
TABLE 2 Crushing Strength Requirements tests shall be one for each size, type, and class of pipe on the
Nominal Minimum Crushing Loads order. The purchaser or his authorized inspector may select the
Diameter conduit to be tested.
mm (in.) Class B Class C
kN (lbf) kN (lbf) 12. Rejection and Rehearing
40 (1.5) 2.2 500 5.3 1200 12.1 Failure of any specimen tested for flexural and crush-
50 (2) 2.2 500 5.3 1200 ing strength to withstand 75 % of the load specified in Section
75 (3) 2.2 500 5.3 1200
100 (4) 2.2 500 5.3 1200 7 shall be cause for rejection of the lot from which the test
130 (5) 2.2 500 4.0 900 specimen was taken. When any specimen tested for flexural or
150 (6) 2.2 500 3.6 800 crushing strength withstands over 75 % but under 100 % of the
load specified in Section 7, one specimen shall be cut from
each of two additional conduits of the same lot. Failure of
generated, effective measures shall be taken to prevent inhala- either of these additional specimens to meet the strength
tion. Refer to approved techniques in AIA RCP2. requirements of Section 7 shall be cause for rejection of the
10.3 For the crushing test, two specimens shall be cut from entire lot from which the original sample was taken.
one full length of conduit from each lot. 12.2 If the results of the uncombined calcium hydroxide test
10.4 When uncombined calcium hydroxide tests are re- show the sample failed to meet the specification requirements,
quested (Section 6), one sample shall be taken from each lot of two additional specimens shall be selected and sampled for
conduit. The sample to be tested may be taken from any one of test. The failure of one of these two additional samples to meet
the specimens selected for the crushing test. the specification requirements of Section 6 shall be cause for
11. Inspection rejection of the lot.
11.1 All material furnished under this specification shall 13. Product Marking
conform to the physical and chemical requirements stated
herein and may be subject to factory inspection by the 13.1 Each standard and random length of conduit shall be
purchaser. All conduit shall be inspected by the manufacturer marked by the manufacturer with the trade name, nominal size,
for compliance to dimensional tolerances and workmanship. type, class, and the date of manufacture, in alkali resistant ink
The manufacturer shall accept to certify that his product or indelible paint. Each carton containing coupling sleeves
conforms to the requirements of this specification. shall be marked by the manufacturer with the nominal size,
11.2 On orders requiring inspection by the purchaser, the type, and class for the conduit with which it shall be used.
manufacturer shall arrange the time of testing so that the
14. Packaging
purchaser or his authorized inspector may be present to witness
such tests at the purchaser’s expense. The conduit to be tested 14.1 Conduit and couplings shall be prepared for commer-
will already have passed the routine inspection and testing of cial shipment so as to ensure acceptance by common or other
this specification. The number of tests to be conducted for carriers.
flexural strength and crushing strength shall be limited to a 14.2 Refer also to S1.1.
maximum of one sample per each 1000 standard lengths of
each size, type, and class of conduit on the order. If uncom- 15. Keywords
bined calcium hydroxide tests are required, the numbers of 15.1 asbestos; asbestos-cement; conduit; specification

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

The following supplementary requirements shall apply when material is supplied under this
specification for U.S. Government procurement.

S1. Packaging for U.S. Government S2. Responsibility for Inspection

S1.1 Unless otherwise specified in the contract, the material
shall be packaged in accordance with the producer’s standard
practice which will be acceptable to the carrier at lowest rates.
Containers and packing shall comply with Uniform Freight
Classification Rules or National Motor Freight Classification
Rules. Marking for shipment of such material shall be in
accordance with Fed. Std. No. 123 for civil agencies and
MIL-STD-129 for military agencies.
S2.1 Unless otherwise specified in the contract or pur-chase
order, the producer is responsible for the testing of all material
to assure compliance with the requirements specified herein.
Except as otherwise specified in the contract or order, the
producer may use his own or any other suitable facilities for the
performance of the inspection and test requirements specified
herein, unless disapproved by the purchaser. The purchaser
shall have the right to perform any of the inspections and tests

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 C 875 – 98 (2003)
set forth in this specification where such inspections are scribed requirements.
deemed necessary to assure that material conforms to pre-

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